The police in Anambra state on Wednesday, June 7, rescued two persons from being lynched to death by an irate mob in Ihiala Local Government Area, after they were falsely accused of being involved in ritual killings.

The suspects, a male and a female, were seen in a viral video being paraded naked by members of the community. A man who was filming the incident claimed that the suspects had killed three persons, with the intention to use them for money rituals, before they were caught by villagers. 

In the video being circulated, the corpse of the victims were lumped in a wheel barrow, while the suspects were made to push them in turns.

However in a statement released, the spokesperson of the Anambra state police command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the matter was a case of murder, and not connected with ritual killings.

Ikenga said the men of the command upon getting information of the public parade of the culprits, quickly moved in and rescued them. He said the deceased have been deposited in a morgue while the suspects are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

“The Command operatives by 10 am yesterday 7/6/2023 rescued two victims and a suspect who was about to be lynched by an angry mob at the total junction, ihiala. To set the records straight, it is not a case of ritual killing, but a pure incident of murder. Preliminary information reveals that the two culprits a man and a woman who were humiliated and paraded as shown in the video by the angry mob were erroneously accused by the mob as they were seen at the scene where the murder took place.

Also, both the suspect and victims are currently receiving treatment in the hospital. While the deceased has been deposited in a morgue.”

Ikenga quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng as calling for calm, while the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka for a comprehensive investigation.

Watch the graphic video here